Political donors in Northern Ireland could be killed or injured if their names are published as part of a transparency drive, a senior politician has warned.

First minister Peter Robinson cautioned against a cavalier attitude to full transparency, and said business people had been attacked for their associations.

Benefactors are not named in Northern Ireland over fears they could be intimidated, unlike in Great Britain where gifts over a certain amount have to be declared.

However possible changes to how the devolved Assembly at Stormont is run are being considered.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of MPs took evidence from Mr Robinson on Tuesday.

During the hearing, the DUP leader challenged the theory that donors receive special favours and said he could not remember any donations to his party worth more than £5,000.

"It is not worth having someone killed or injured to remove perceptions," he said.

He also said disclosing party donations could be seen as indicating a preference for one of the two traditions of unionism or nationalism, thus having a commercial impact.

The Green Party in Northern Ireland wants to name major donors.

Mr Robinson said: "I don't think we have reached a stage where you could rule out the possibility of being targeted because they are associated with one party or other.

"There is a distinct threat and it is easy for parties who are unlikely to get anybody to donate to them to try and stop other parties from getting donations.

"We have had an ongoing terrorist threat for many decades, business people have been attacked as a result of their association either with the security forces or with one section of the community or the other."

Sinn Fein has maintained its position as the wealthiest and highest spending political party in Northern Ireland.

The Electoral Commission revealed the party had an income of more than £1.2m in 2011, which it almost matched in expenditure.

The DUP also saw its income soar to more than £615,000 in 2011 - a double election year - due in part to increased donations of around £80,000.